Renewal Of Work Permit/non-im B Visas

[awarrumbungle]

I am 33 years old and from Australia.

I came to Thailand early last year as a teacher with a non-im B visa and shortly after received a work permit from my work agency. After completing the first year with a school I have now changed to a new school this year and a new agency.

My work permit will run out on August 28th this month and my agency is telling me I need to get a completely new work permit and go to Panang to get a new non-im B visa too because I have changed schools and agencies.

Is this correct? I was of the understanding once I had a work permit it could be renewed (not requiring me to go through the whole process again). I also wasn't aware I needed to get a new non-im B visa? What should the process have been?

Anyone?

[autonomous_unit]

A work permit is tied to employer, place of work, and job description! There is a process to amend it to change the place of work, but I think changing employer or job description requires a new application. The labor department application/review process is to determine if you should be allowed to do that specific work. There is no such thing as a foreigner being cleared to do an arbitrary job for an arbitrary employer.

Did your work permit get ammended to reflect the new employer when you changed? I'd be more worried about that than whether I can renew now or not...

[lopburi3]

Don't have all the information to be sure but it sounds as if you do not have a valid work permit or visa at this time if you are being requested to obtain a new visa/work permit.

What is sounds like is that your present "agency" just like you continue on the old work permit and visa extension and you have probably been illegal since you quite the first job. But as I say this is crystal balling as we don't know everything. In any case believe you have no choice but to exit/obtain new visa and then new work permit. I would be asking pointed questions of your agency if you are paying.

Believe it is normal to have work permit cancelled when you quite a job and in turn any visa extension of stay is also cancelled. You then have several week to leave Thailand.

[awarrumbungle]

Did your work permit get ammended to reflect the new employer when you changed?  I'd be more worried about that than whether I can renew now or not...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But as I say this is crystal balling as we don't know everything.  In any case believe you have no choice but to exit/obtain new visa and then new work permit.  I would be asking pointed questions of your agency if you are paying.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks guys for the quick replies.

No my work pemit didn't get changed to reflect my new job/employer. My new contract came with the condition that all my visa stuff would be handled for me. I gave them all the details and trusted they would ask me for anything they needed. I guess I've been illegal since March this year when my old contract finished.

Secondly, I will be asking my employer why they let me continue on the same visa. And will be asking them to reimburse me for the cost of a trip to Panang.

Ahh Thailand, just another bunch of F#@*k ups that couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery!

"IG LAO"

Edited August 11, 2005 by awarrumbungle